The Mike, Issue 4 (2017-18)

The official student newspaper of the University of St. Michael’s College since 1947.

Volume LXX, Issue 4 November 15, 2017 readthemike.com

FEATURE

NEWS

OPINIONS

LOGOS

Toronto’s Homelessness Crisis (pages 8–9)

“No Dough, No Show” (page 10)

The UTSU’s Fall 2017 AGM (page 3)

The Gilson Seminar (page 12)

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NEWS

News Editor Aaron Panciera news@readthemike.com

Volume LXX

ASSOCIATE FEATURES EDITOR Sara Alonzi

By students, for students.

ASSOCIATE ARTS EDITOR Ascenza Paolella

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Josh Scott editorinchief@readthemike.com

FEATURES EDITOR Téana Graziani features@readthemike.com

MANAGING EDITOR Liam McConnell managingeditor@readthemike.com

ARTS EDITOR Miranda Mirabelli arts@readthemike.com

BUSINESS MANAGER Rhonda Rathburn business@readthemike.com

LOGOS EDITOR Francesco Rampino logos@readthemike.com

MANAGING ONLINE EDITOR Prijanga Ahilan

SCIENCE & TECH EDITOR Jiaxing Huang science@readthemike.com

SENIOR COPY EDITOR Jamie Stalcup

SPORTS EDITOR Ben Denomme sports@readthemike.com

NEWS EDITOR Aaron Panciera news@readthemike.com OPINIONS EDITOR Julia Orsini opinions@readthemike.com

PHOTO EDITOR Layla Pereira-DaSilva ILLUSTRATION EDITOR Jennifer Boothby COPY EDITORS M. Kalaczynski, Rebeca Ancer, Mara Ng, Kristine Sahagun WEBSITE EDITOR Angela Feng SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Emily So OUTREACH DIRECTOR Josh Simpson DESIGN MANAGERS Varisha Naeem, Garnet Ryu DELIVERY MANAGER Manyi Luo

ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR Bardia Besharat

FACULTY ADVISOR Randy Boyagoda

ASSOCIATE OPINIONS EDITOR Bryan Liceralde

STAFF REPORTERS Braedon Balko, Emily Barber

CONTRIBUTORS Michael Calamia, Adrian Calamia, Fernanda Peralta, Korto Zambeli-Tardif, Vittoria Tesoro, Kate Dockeray, Bushra Ahmed, Arnold Yung, Nazanin Zarepour, Andrea Battista, Thomas Williams, Yinan Liu, Jonfranco Monaco, Hannah MacDonald, Mateo Moreno, Noah Hehn, Josephine Ng, Pran Sathiy COVER IMAGE Pran Sathiy LOGO DESIGN Le nonpareil Chris Quental The Mike has been the official student newspaper of the University of St. Michael’s College (USMC) since 1947. It is published bi-weekly, 12 times a year, with a circulation of 2,000, delivered to over 40 newsstands across U of T’s St. George campus.

The Mike is a proud member of the Canadian University Press (CUP). The Mike is published by The Mike Publications Inc. and printed by MasterWeb Inc. on recycled newsprint stock.

The Mike has complete editorial autonomy from USMC. All editorial inquiries should be directed to editorinchief@readthemike. com. The Mike welcomes submissions. All submissions may be edited for taste, brevity, and legality.

You’re Not Alone: A Look at U of T’s Mental Health Initiatives Find out what they can and can’t do for you Emily Barber STAFF REPORTER The extensive mental health initiatives at the University of Toronto (U of T), both physical and digital, strive to be as comprehensive and inclusive as possible. Mental health is becoming an increasingly prioritized issue, and as University of Toronto St. George (UTSG) students and staff return from the recently installed fall reading week, it seems evident that students’ mental health is now being taken more seriously.

A look at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) website confirms this train of thought, as fall reading week is viewed as a chance to “give each student the opportunity to schedule other learning activities in that week that could help their academic success. In addition, some students might choose to spend the fall break getting to know their fellow classmates, arranging social activities or visiting family. All such activities should ease the stress associated with first term and, for new students, the significant transition to university life.” But beyond a new reading week, what else is being done to ensure the mental well-being of those at U of T? The latest online Mental Health Platform (released in 2016) promises to focus on developing a communication strategy that keeps students up-to-date on all programs and services available and how and when to access them. Not only is there involvement within the university, but attempts at communication beyond the university, including a “web-based platform called More Feet on the Ground [that] was launched in partnership with the Council of Ontario Universities to address student mental health education, awareness and stigma,” and the “launch of the new healthyuoft.ca website provides links to campus programs, resources and events in support of student mental health. The HealthyUofT site is supported via Twitter (53,000 students reached) and Facebook (130,000 views).”

Within U of T itself, a communication strategy has developed, the Flourish program at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) has expanded, in which “students can take a comprehensive assessment of

their mental health that identifies signs and symptoms of mental health, character strengths, academic engagement and well-being. They are provided with customized feedback and resources concerning their mental health.” More than 2,000 UTSC students have completed the online Flourish assessment.

At St. George, mental health messaging has been promoted weekly to students at the St. George campus via “inclusion in the campus-wide just-in-time slide program and the 9 New Things e-newsletter. Messaging about mental health supports and services reached approximately 60,000 students per week.” In the new Health and Wellness Centre at the Koffler Centre located on the second floor, new signage has been installed to direct students toward help more quickly and efficiently.

The second tier of the mental health initiative plan is to expand strength-based programming to develop positive mental health and resilience that “engages students early in order to prevent exacerbation of the problem.”

There also is increased awareness on an emphasis to develop the mental health-related literacy of students, staff, and faculty to create supportive and inclusive conditions for students to flourish and to reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues.

After implementing programs, the goal is to coordinate, benchmark, and assess the “effectiveness of programs and initiatives to ensure they are accessible, sustainable and cohesive.”

The mental health initiative also aims to go beyond the U of T community, to further leverage external community resources to help meet the full spectrum of health needs of the students and enhance coordination, collaboration, and communication across services and systems within and beyond the university.

Another helpful resource is the Gerstein Crisis Centre, a community centre for serious mental health con-

cerns. The centre has two locations at 1045 Bloor St. West and 100 Charles St. East, it promises numerous care facilities, including “24-hour telephone crisis intervention, mobile crisis visits, and short term residential beds,” and services that include “integrated services for individuals with complex needs which can include mental health and justice, concurrent and serious substance use, homelessness and dual diagnosis.” The centre has a comprehensive website that lists all of its available resources, as well as hotlines for both immediate and long-term needs.

The Koffler Health and Wellness Centre, located on the second floor of 214 College Street, provides the same services as a family physician for all current U of T students, as well as psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, group therapy, and embedded counsellors in locations across campus. The Koffler Health and Wellness Centre offers both drop-in appointments and scheduled appointments, however, they recommend scheduling appointments as they only provide a certain amount of drop-ins per day and wait time can range from 15 to 90 or more minutes.

These services are here for students, and so it is important to utilize them when needed. The phone number Gerstein Crisis Centre 24-hour crisis intervention hotline is 416-929-5200. They can also be reached by email at admin@gersteincentre.org (Charles Street location) or at gersteinonbloor@gersteincentre.org (Bloor Street location). The Koffler Health and Wellness Centre can be contacted at 416-978-8030 daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. For mental health services, email mentalhealth.utoronto.ca.

Some other community resources include: Good2Talk Helpline: 1-866-925-5454 Assaulted Women’s Helpline: 416-863-0511 Toronto Distress Centre: 416-408-4357 Drug and Alcohol Helpline: 1-800-565-8603 Mental Health Helpline: 1-866-531-2600 ON. Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-888-230-3505

NEWS

Website: readthemike.com Facebook/Twitter/Instagram: @readthemike

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UTSU AGM In Review

Students and executives clash over cost-cutting measures Aaron Panciera NEWS EDITOR Bardia Besharat ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR The University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) hosted its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on October 30 at the University of Toronto’s (U of T’s) Mechanical Engineering Building. The meeting highlighted fissures between the student union and the student body, as members and executives clashed over a number of issues mainly concerning bylaw amendments.

The meeting was attended by around 90 students who held a total of 335 proxy votes. However, there were concerns over its availability to University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) students as the proxy period (October 9–15) was during UTM fall reading week (October 10–13).

Presidential Address and Executive Question Period UTSU President Mathias Memmel opened the meeting with his Presidential Address, which he described as an “unusual speech for an unusual year.” During this speech, Memmel discussed the topic of unity within UTSU, stating that “unity is often code for uniformity,” and continuing to state, “We see the need for unity used to justify the suppression of dissent.” The basis of this speech being the numerous issues of corruption and unrest within the UTSU executive board. He continued his speech by stating that solidarity is earned, not owed, and UTSU has not yet earned its solidarity.

After his speech the floor opened up for questions from attendants of the AGM, the first of which dealt with the termination of three major positions. The attendant revealed a petition with 1,200 signatures pressing UTSU to revitalize the positions of Health and Dental Services Coordinator, Clubs Coordinator, and Financial Coordinator. The attendant asked what UTSU is doing to address the concerns that the petition raises and how UTSU is addressing the resulting cuts to services by the eliminations of these positions. Memmel responded stating, “I appreciate the fact that signatures

have been collected, but I’ll also note that from what I’ve seen, that the majority of these signatures are not from UTSU members, so I’m happy to receive the petition but as far as we [UTSU] are concerned at this point, there’s no opportunity for reconsideration at this time.”

Debate on this topic was shortened because of time restraints, and much of the period was dedicated to asking questions about the specifics of the bylaw. The motion carried without amendment.

This response seemed to dismiss the topic, however another student voiced their opinion shortly after, asking about the services, rather than the positions themselves. The student stated that the 1,200 signatures represent the students’ concerns about the services that are being cut as a result of the termination of these positions and that UTSU is continually ignoring students who are taking action to vocalize the need for these services. Memmel responded that he cannot discuss the topic, right before stating that, “We [UTSU] have the option [to bring these positions back], we are choosing not to.” He explained that the service cuts are a result of the $3 million deficit UTSU will be facing over the next 10 years as a result of the new Student Commons project.

“The UTSU is in financial crisis” was a statement repeated throughout the meeting by Memmel and Vice President Internal Daman Singh, and a consistent theme of the AGM. This became a key point in discussing an amendment that would consolidate two executive positions, Vice President University Affairs and Vice President External, into one position, Vice President Advocacy. This would effectively be getting rid of one executive position and with that one executive salary, which totals $30,000.

Bylaw Amendments The bulk of the AGM was dedicated to three bylaw amendments. Only one of these bylaw charges, Bylaw XIX, was originally set by the agenda to be debated at the meeting. This bylaw concerns UTSU’s autonomy from external groups. Adding this bylaw would disallow the UTSU from becoming “a member of any organization from which the UTSU would not be able to withdraw via a vote of the Board of Directors” and from making agreements that could not be terminated by a vote from the Board of Directors.

Memmel uses the Canadian Federation of Students as an example of an external organization that this bylaw would prevent the UTSU from forming a binding agreement with such as they have done in the past.

UTSU in Financial Crisis?

“The UTSU is facing a three million dollar deficit with the introduction of the Student Commons in the next 10 years,” Memmel said. “The numbers speak for themselves, they’re provided by the university, [and] they’re not fabricated.”

The Student Commons Project Memmel refers to is the plan to turn 230 College Street into a student centre for the University of Toronto St. George (UTSG) campus. The UTSU Financial Projections and Analysis for 2017–27 estimates that the costs of the Student Commons will be higher than the revenue raised to fund the project. The document states, “The costs of operating the Student Commons, which the UTSU appears to be bound to pay to the University, is projected by the University itself to exceed the expected revenue from the Operating Cost Levy.” Memmel argues in this document that because of students’ refusal to raise the levy, it is necessary to downsize and make budget cuts in order to “keep the lights on.”

SMCSU Releases Club Funding, Recognition Info SMCSU outlines timeline, process changes Josh Scott EDITOR-IN-CHIEF The St. Michael’s College Student Union (SMCSU) has just released information regarding the funding and recognition process for clubs registered at the University of St. Michael’s College (USMC).

(Samantha Douek), VP (Kate Strazds), VP Finance (currently unfilled), USMC’s Director of Student Life (Oriana Bertucci), and another appointed USMC faculty member.

SMCSU will host a USMC Clubs Conference on Saturday, November 25 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. in Brennan Hall. Attendance will be optional, but it will be highly recommended for all clubs, both new and returning, that are seeking recognition and funding from USMC. It will cover topics like budgeting, creating a constitution — which clubs that haven’t already will be required to do — event planning, membership, and the forms and the recognition process.

All requisite forms for USMC club recognition, including each club’s budget, will be due by Friday, December 8, at 5 p.m. Completed forms may be submitted by email to vpacademics@smcsu.com or handed in to the box at SMCSU’s Brennan Hall office. Forms will be available through SMCSU’s new Facebook page, outside SMCSU’s office, or via email if you message vpacademics@smcsu.com.

Alison Feise, SMCSU’s Vice-President (VP) of Academic Affairs, is overseeing the club funding and recognition process. For more general information or questions concerning it, students can email her at vpacademics@smcsu.com. As VP Academic Affairs, she acts as a liaison between SMCSU and clubs registered at USMC. She will chair the USMC Club Recognition Board, as outlined in the “Re-Imagining Student Government at St. Mike’s Report.” The rest of the Club Recognition Board will consist of SMCSU’s President

SMCSU intends to host recognition and budget meetings immediately following the break. “We’re hoping to have the meetings during the first week back in January,” Samantha Douek, SMCSU’s President, told The Mike. “That way all of the clubs have their budgets approved [more quickly] because I know we’re a little late.”

“We’re also going to be posting the forms online, and sending them [to USMC clubs] by email, since we updated some of them,” said Douek. “Alison will send an

email [to clubs] with details on the application process, but it won’t be much different than the previous years.”

It is clear that SMCSU’s prorogation in late 2016 and subsequent, nearly yearlong hiatus — that led to the formation of a “reimagined” SMCSU — has had a significant impact on the timeline for club funding and recognition. In past years, the submission process would occur much earlier. For the 2016–17 year, for instance, the Club Recognition Application opened on September 24, and clubs that sought funding in the fall submitted by October 14.

This year, “all of the members of SMCSU assumed their roles at the same time as midterms,” as Douek mentioned. “We are working on an accelerated timeline and so are working as fast as we can to present visible progress within the short period [between] our appointment [and] the upcoming December exam session. We have decided that, if we are to be successful over the course of the academic year, our priority at this time should be to focus on the quality of our work and outline our responsibilities so that we can ensure that everything is on track and running smoothly by the time we return for the winter semester.”

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EDITORIAL

Editor-In-Chief Josh Scott editorinchief@readthemike.com

Editorial: Don’t Forget With November 11 just behind, and many perennial poppies still clinging to the fall coats of passersby, remembrance is on everyone’s mind this week. We owe much of our way of life to those brave Canadians who fought and died for us all those years ago. If you allowed Remembrance Day to slip by unnoticed this year, it’s okay. It’s a busy and stressful time for all of us. After all, while November 11 does mark the end of World War I, it seems reductive to dedicate only one day of our year to remembering. Remembrance doesn’t have to be full of ceremony, 21-gun salutes, and poppy wreaths. It can happen every day, in secret, inside ourselves.

If you appreciate the architectural beauty of our college’s own St. Basil’s Church, consider the young students-turned-soldiers who beheld its bricks and spire before you; if you find yourself walking to class on a breezy fall day and are taken by the simple beauty of fallen maple

leaves swirling in the wind, picture trenches of mud and a night sky brightened with the explosion of shells; if you’re lucky enough to catch the midday tolling of the Soldier’s Tower bell, remember for whom it rings.

In our Features section, Second-Lieutenant Mateo Moreno writes about this very thing.

But, as important as such reminiscence is, it’s not the only type of remembrance and consideration that The Mike engages in this week. I hope that this issue inspires you to remember those that are often — in fact, systematically — forgotten, both here at home and around the world. We may pass them on the street, read about them in the news, and forget they exist immediately after, if we notice at all. I’m writing from unfortunate experience and culpability in doing that very thing. I’m talking about our poor, our homeless, and those of us with mental illnesses.

Issue 4 At A Glance...

As was mentioned in the above editorial, The Mike covers many issues of homelessness and inequality this week.

In our main feature this week, News Editor Aaron Panciera examines homelessness through a human rights viewpoint. His piece is supplemented in the News section by details about Toronto’s growing income inequality.

The News section also includes information on campus mental health services. With due dates and final exams looming, an article on stress and how to manage it in our Features section might help you with your own mental health at this time of year.

We discuss the study of religion in the Logos section, and mourn the passing of Blue Jays legend Roy Halladay in Sports.

On a lighter note, you’ll find pieces on Hart House’s production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee in Arts, the optimistic future of the new NDP leader Jagmeet Singh in Opinions, and Canada’s scientific future in Science & Technology.

Finally, this issue includes the second volume of our “Students of St. Mike’s” series, featuring Nick Poulimenakos, Matthew Simoes, and Artur Galvao: creators of “Talkies Network.”

Plus, a whole lot more!

In our News and Features sections, you’ll find some frightening facts: Toronto is the income inequality capital of the country. Over 5,000 people in Toronto will be sleeping on the street or in shelters tonight. We’ve all seen the effects of such disparity manifest just outside of our doors, if we aren’t affected ourselves.

We also touch upon world poverty and the availability of mental health resources here on campus. I hope these four pieces contribute, in some small way, to bringing issues like these to the fore, and to the consciousness of the University of St. Michael’s College (USMC) student body, perhaps even inspiring us to help.

Certainly, we could all benefit from awareness of issues like these, and the remembrance of those affected. I know I can.

Your 2017–18 Managing Editor, Liam McConnell

NEWS

News Editor Aaron Panciera news@readthemike.com

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In Comes Inequality

Toronto is now the “Income Inequality Capital” of Canada according to recent U of T, United Way report Braedon Balko STAFF REPORTER The University of Toronto (U of T) and the United Way have recently collaborated on a report entitled “The Opportunity Equation in the Greater Toronto Area,” which declared Toronto the city with the greatest income inequality in Canada — essentially, there are less and less average income neighbourhoods, leading to some pockets becoming highly gentrified and rich, while others become progressively more destitute.

This report was based on data from a 2016 census, and while it states that many cities in Canada suffer from large income divides, Toronto remains the worst offender. In 1980, Toronto was teeming with middle-income neighbourhoods, so since then an enormous shift has occurred, altering Toronto’s economic fabric, polarizing neighbourhoods into becoming either wealthy or poor.

Why does all of this matter? The Mike asked one of the people who worked on the report, Michelynn Laflèche, United Way Toronto and York Region’s Vice President of Strategy, Research, and Policy, exactly what the implication of Toronto being the “income inequality capital of Canada” means.

“There’s lots of research out there, from all over the world now,” Laflèche asserted, “telling us that in more unequal societies where income inequality is higher, you have lower levels of trust, educational performance, life expectancy, you get higher rates of teen pregnancy, violence, imprisonment, mental illness, addiction, obesity, those sorts of things. You have unstable and unsustainable economies — the list is long — higher rates of bankruptcy and financial distress among individuals, increasing pessimism, and then one that really weighs on my mind is this kind of sense of the decreasing concern or connection between people from different backgrounds.”

As for why this is happening, there is no easy answer, as according to Laflèche, there are a variety of nuanced reasons for this occurrence. Among other things, she says, “It has to do with the economy ... It has to do with technological and global change — globalization, rather — so the way in which jobs are changing, some types of jobs are disappearing, and other types of jobs are appearing new on the horizon and we don’t know what those look like, but it means that some people are losing work as a result. Back to the economy a bit, it has to do with the decline of certain sectors — particularly in our region the decline of manufacturing sector has a big impact on this, and its replacement by a service sector which has lower wages overall.”

Laflèche also wants to be clear that while immigrants may contribute to the problem, the issue is much more complicated than what many believe to be the case.

“There’s a correlation of course with a high-level immigration and income inequality, and I want to be clear that it’s not because immigrants themselves come with less skills, and therefore don’t earn as much — it’s because they are entering into a workforce that they’re actually having trouble entering into. So, they experience, and they report experiencing, discrimination in getting jobs, in maintaining their jobs, and progressing in their jobs.”

When asked if there is any indication that the gap will continue to widen if things stay the same, she replied, “Our guess would be yes, if things stay the same … It’ll either flatten out and just remain at the kind of very high levels that we have, or it will grow,” which is a sobering prospect.

We asked Laflèche what university students might be able to do about this, how we might be able to contribute.

Poverty, Corruption, and Morality USMC hosts Poverty, Inc. screening and panel discussion Bardia Besharat ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR The University of St. Michael’s College (USMC) hosted a screening of the 91-minute documentary, Poverty, Inc. (2014) at Alumni Hall on Wednesday, November 8.

The evening was sponsored by the Newman Centre, USMC, and the Archdiocese of Toronto.

The screening was followed by a panel discussion.

One of the panelists was Andreas Widmer, an ex-Swiss Guard for Pope John Paul II turned successful entrepreneur. Widmer was featured in the film, and offered his perspective on the issue of poverty. Anne Leahy was the other panelist. Leahy is a member of the Advisory Board of the School of Religious Studies at McGill University, and served as the Ambassador of Canada to the Holy See from 2008–12.

Poverty, Inc. is an “award-winning documentary that analyzes the results of some Non-Governmental Organizations’ (NGOs) attempts to help alleviate extreme poverty in countries in the developing world.” It tackles the issue of the effects of charity, as well as the business involved in poverty in Africa. The film, directed by Michael Matheson Miller, addresses the industry of foreign aid and offers alternate plans to the current method of aiding impoverished African countries in particular.

After the screening, the panel discussion began. The panelists discussed questions about issues dealing with poverty in today’s world. One of these issues was the topic of corruption in impoverished African countries. In response to this, the topic of corruption in a given political and social environment arose. The panelists discussed the fact that people stuck with corruption tend to give in to corruption solely because they have to.

Along with the topic of corruption, the topic of the morality of aid arose. Widmer stated that no company should serve as a moral advocate and people should be aware of their own moral actions.

The issue of Chinese involvement in Africa was also discussed, with the question of whether there is a residual shared responsibility of the effects of business on the world.

Throughout the discussion the panelists talked about the other side of poverty and foreign aid that we, as regular civilians, do not see. They brought up points about how poverty is an industry that the west is currently losing in.

“One, build awareness about it. That’s got to be of course your primary role. You’re in that stage of your development that this is the kind of work you can do around helping people understand the issues that are on the ground and affecting our community .... You can also begin to start thinking about how you can enact change in different spaces. So … a lot of young people these days are very entrepreneurial and setting up their own businesses, even while at university … And I would say … from the very beginning, be thinking very carefully about what you’re doing as you enter the business world yourself, or enter a world where you have an opportunity to earn money for yourself and potentially employ or engage others in the production of those about money for yourselves … Think about what should be the difference between what you take out of that business and what you give to those that helped you achieve your business goals and success, and do that from the outset. Commit to it for the long term.”

“And think,” Lafléche continued, “university students can also be looking at their own space in campus, looking at — again the labour market becomes a very important piece around that, certainly the student union can have a role to play, continue to have a role to play ensuring that the jobs that for students and others on the campus … I think this is really important, to be thinking about the whole work force, and not just one’s own members. How do we ensure that the jobs are quality jobs? How do we ensure that people get enough hours to earn the right income they need to live? What are the ways that the student union can work with the broader labour force within the academic setting? I think things like that are all actual things that … would be helpful in the community, a university community.”

Volume LXX By students, for students.

Is there a story at USMC or U of T that isn’t being covered?

Is there something you’d like to see us investigate? If so, let us know!

Send all tips and piping hot scoops to news@readthemike.com, or editorinchief@readthemike.com.

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Arts Editor Miranda Mirabelli arts@readthemike.com

The Seasons Are Changing: So Should Your Wardrobe!

ARTS

A student’s guide to men’s winter fashion Michael Calamia CONTRIBUTOR

We all know university is difficult. The last thing on any guy’s mind is what our outfit is going to be tomorrow, especially during midterm season. New complications have risen in the form of dropping temperatures. Our ignorance has lifted, bringing a new sense of personal image consciousness. If you want to attract the attention of that cute girl in your tutorial and stay warm in the process, heed my advice.

Michael Calamia dressing warm while looking cool (Adrian Calamia / THE MIKE).

The best weapon against the cold weather is layering. Dressing in layers will not only give you protection from the cold weather but if done properly, will give you the appearance of mastery and mystery. The ideal number of layers is between two and three. These can consist of a dress or casual button-up, and some sort of wool or cotton sweater, or for a more casual look, a T-shirt underneath a shawl-collar cardigan. Common sweater styles include: crew or V-neck pullover, cardigans, mock necks, shawl collars, turtlenecks, and

half- or quarter-zip. However, I emphasize that the sweaters must be made of either a wool blend, cotton, or merino wool. These fabrics act as insulators of heat that will be crucial for those long walks between classes. Outerwear can be a tricky matter. For early fall, leather, bomber, or denim jackets are ideal since they allow you to stay just warm enough to avoid unwanted perspiring. During the harsh months of November and December, a wool peacoat or topcoat are the best options.

Nothing is more crucial in the winter season than footwear. Not only are boots functional but they are more appropriate for the fall and winter seasons as opposed to the boat shoes I see around campus. A pair of good leather chukka boots or Chelsea boots are classic staples; however, I see the high-top combat boot making a statement this winter. Leather is the preferred material due to its durability against the harsh conditions of the infamous Toronto winters. A rich-colored suede is also a great option since its texture will give your outfit a new dimension. Also, hunt for a pair of boots that are to some degree water-resistant to help with those damp and snowy days.

Let us discuss pants. Every man needs at least one pair of dark fitted jeans in his closet. This provides the foundation to your entire wardrobe due to its versatility as the “white dress shirt” of pants. Jeans made out of raw, unwashed denim will have a rich indigo shade and the weight of raw denim will provide better warmth than your standard distressed jeans. Chinos are a great alternative to wearing jeans every day

and provide variety in your wardrobe. Look for a chino made from a heavier weight cotton to keep your lower half warm too. If you are more of an advanced dresser, a pair of wool trousers will look great with a pair of Chelsea boots and a turtleneck.

The most important element for any of these items is the colour. One day, when you are rushing through Queen’s Park, stop and take a look at the colours you see. These are going to be the colours of your fall and winter wardrobe. Subdued but rich colours like olive, burgundy, burnt orange, shades of brown, beige, and grey are going to be the colours of choice. These are “earth tones” and they work well to reflect strength and stability while reflecting the colours of the season.

Invest in a pair of olive chinos, a pair of dark brown leather boots, a beige shawl-collar cardigan and a simple white T-shirt, and you are set for that coffee date at Starbucks. If you are not a fan of olive, swap them out for tan or navy and the outfit is still fall-inspired.

The subtle harmony of earth tones is exactly why they work so well when combined together and something to strive for this season.

If you have made it this far then I congratulate you for I have nothing left to teach you. So, when you make eye contact with that cute girl in your English tutorial, give her something to look at besides your glowing personality. Winter is coming, my friends, and if you are going to be dressing warm, you might as well look good while doing it.

A True Review of the Heart The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at Princess of Wales Theatre Fernanda Peralta CONTRIBUTOR A couple of times a year, my dad, who lives in Vancouver, visits Toronto. This visit was special because we decided to go see The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at the Princess of Wales Theatre. This play centers around Christopher Boone, an adolescent with autism spectrum disorder. Throughout the entire play, the audience follows Christopher as he is trying to solve the murder of the neighbourhood dog.

When he discovers who the murderer is, he flees to his mother’s house in London before ultimately returning to live with his father.

When the play began, I thought to myself, “Oh no, here we go again. This play is going to try to get laughs from the audience by featuring Christopher’s inability to comprehend figurative language,” which is similar to how the writers of The Big Bang Theory make anecdotes out of Sheldon Cooper’s experience of life.

I could not bring myself to laugh. I thought to myself, “These are serious issues; it must be very demanding for someone with autism to have a hard time with social communication.” I wanted the play to focus on Christopher’s strengths rather than his weaknesses.

As someone who identifies with this special community due to my learning disabilities, I love seeing portrayals of individuals with disabilities in the media since they are a population that is often neglected in public entertainment. Before attending the play, I had not read Mark Haddon’s novel. Without any previous knowledge of the plot, I was expecting an optimistic portrayal of individuals with autism spectrum disorder.

I was desperately hoping for an upbeat story, with an overarching message of no matter how many obstacles an individual may encounter, there is always hope.

I wanted the play to celebrate the wealth of contributions that people with autism can make to society. Unfortunately, I was disappointed.

As the play went on, I told myself, “Let it go, Fernanda, let’s try and enjoy the play for what it has to offer,” instead of bringing my own expectations to the scene.

So, I started to pay attention to the theatrical elements of the play. A huge positive aspect of the play was the set design. I enjoyed the permanent cube inside of which the characters delivered their dialogues. This addition to the set was emblematic of the barriers that individuals with autism can face in their daily lives.

Also, the sound design was impeccable. The manner in which the volume would increase to an uncomfortable level for the audience brilliantly conveyed sensory processing difficulties that are common in individuals with autism. Also, once I shifted my focus away from

Christopher, I was able to appreciate the brilliant way in which the play explored the effects of raising a child with autism on marital and parent-child relationships.

Overall, my biggest critique of the play was that after Christopher finds his way independently to London, the play is guilty of holding low expectations of people with disabilities, evident by the manner in which Christopher’s victory is presented as utterly miraculous. As Stella Young argues in her TED talk, we should strive to live in a world that believes people with disabilities can accomplish great things in life.

When you get to the last scene of the play, consider this: is Christopher’s improvement in self-esteem all that is needed for a better life? Or does his therapist’s reaction tell us something about his future? Somehow the ending does not feel optimistic since there is a contrast between what Christopher thinks he can accomplish and the reality that he faces as someone with a disability. It is definitely not a play that makes you feel content at the end. As my dad always says, “There is nothing like a good comedy!”

ARTS

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7

A Very Nice Beginning

Hart House’s The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Korto Zambeli-Tardif CONTRIBUTOR

Hart House’s production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee stands as one of the best exponents of the theatre’s musical output in recent years.

Director Cory Doran has assembled a team of vibrant performers and imaginative crew members who present a seamless and affecting portrait of childhood’s end.

Spelling Bee enjoyed its Broadway run between 2005 and 2008. Rachel Sheinkin’s Tony Award-winning book is based on the improvisational play C-RE-P-U-S-C-U-L-E. While the current incarnation of this story is mostly scripted, ad-libbed jokes and variant musical cues depend on the participation of four audience “volunteer spellers” who are invited to join the six students of the Putnam County Spelling Bee onstage. As explained by the production team in a post-show talkback following the Remembrance Day performance, the paramount role of the audience in this musical demands a range of prepared and spontaneous reactions from the cast, stage crew, and band to ensure that volunteer spellers participate to comedic effect without winning the scripted endgame.

Suffice it to say, the improv is pulled off with aplomb.

Given the unusual number of variables in this fairly complex show, it is all the more impressive that Doran’s team manages its intricate task. Spelling Bee commits to its status as musical theatre with continual outbursts of song and dance reflecting the emotional turmoil of the characters. The mate-

rial is ripe for such turmoil, as the context of a middle school spelling bee presents poorly socialized pre-teens and equally repressed adults whose issues around perfectionism and encroaching adolescence manifest within this competitive environment.

From the opening number (Scott Gorman).

These are kids who enjoy winning, a value which ultimately threatens to inhibit the growth that is coming.

Incumbent champion Chip Tolentino, played by John Wamsley, is shown as the confident, groomed leading man until puberty causes his panicked and hilarious loss of control. Marcy Park displays her commitment to absolute perfectionism with a catalogue of mastered skills that speak highly of actress Braelyn Gup-

py’s control and versatility. Each student represents one facet of the pressure felt at this critical turning point, a pressure which explodes into the ambitious and flawless group dance numbers “Pandemonium” and “Woe Is Me,” choreographed by Sabrina Hooper.

As each kid fails to spell a word correctly, they are played off to the accompaniment of their peers’ relieved singing of a “Goodbye” tune. One by one, the colour-coded characters exit. Two of the women are, however, similarly attired: neglected Olive Ostrovsky, played by Vanessa Campbell, wears the same flowery skirt as the Bee’s facilitator, Rona Lisa Peretti, played by Amy Swift. The running theme of refusing to emulate your parents’ flaws is crystallized through this parallel as Swift dons a shawl and assumes the identity of Olive’s absent mother for “The I Love You Song.” This is the most astonishing moment of the production, as Swift and Campbell sing in a three-part harmony with Carson Betz, who is in many ways the show’s secret weapon, playing Olive’s dad, forming a marvelous wall of sound that lands the impact of Olive’s conscious fantasizing.

As comfort counselor Mitch Mahoney, also played

by Betz, remarks when faced with the revolting kids, “Pain has degrees.” The learning process to achieve that perspective involves some appropriate growing pains. Every aspect of this production perfectly reflects the shiny, polished awkwardness that characterizes both spelling bees and musical theatre.

A New Look at the Brazen Age Vikings: The Exhibit at The ROM Vittoria Tesoro CONTRIBUTOR The Royal Ontario Museum’s (ROM’s) new Vikings: The Exhibit debunks any inquiries one might have about the brazen age. The gallery is filled with numerous artifacts revealing religious, cultural, and voyaging practices of the vikings. The interactive sections of the exhibit allow patrons to hold a replica sword, and adjust movable horns on a replica helmet. I found the large information wall explaining the meaning of “viking” to be a captivating opening piece to the exhibit. I learned that the vikings did not refer to themselves by this name unless they were literally out on “a viking,” which was the Old Norse word for trade trip or raid. The vikings lived across the Nordic countries, including Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. As I wandered through the exhibit, I came across three pieces I found particularly interesting: the picture stone illustrating the living and the dead; the prestigious weapons; and the reconstructed viking boat and Krampmacken’s sail.

The Viking Age in Scandinavia, around the year 750, was a time of religious transition when Christianity became an established faith in several parts of Europe.

Around the year 1100, Christianity had become the only official religion. Though Christianity was the dominant state religion, Old Norse traditions and practices were integrated with the state religion, including practices of communal cult activities and rites. The Old Norse polytheistic tradition believed in both male and female gods, which contrasted with Christianity’s monotheistic idea of salvation. As a method of combining both beliefs, jewellery ornamentation and rune stones combined Norse and Christian symbols. This integration

A rune stone copy (THE ROM).

suggested a harmonious balance between the new religion and the Old Norse practices. On display at the exhibit, a large picture stone from Gotland, Sweden, depicts a scene from the journey to Valhalla. The grey stone is about seven feet tall, and three feet wide; it stands erected with dark grey engravings illustrating mythical beliefs about the living and the afterlife. At the top of the stone, there is a battlefield which depicts warriors fighting with swords. There is a funeral scene shown below the stone, where eagles and ravens feed off the dead bodies. The second scene depicts a dead warrior arriving in Valhalla, as he is followed by a group of mourning friends. Though the death stone’s illustrations may seem obscure to the modern viewer, people of the Viking Age would be able to recognize such depictions with solemn appreciation.

Viking warriors were identified by the weapons they possessed such as swords, spears, and axes. Most weapons were used for functional purposes, with few exceptions of decorative pieces. As a dedication to viking myths, weapons were often given names to reflect the specific weapons used by the gods. The most prestigious weapon was the sword, as it stood boldly with embellished blades and handles. Spear sockets were made with silver, copper, or brass wires that were hammered into groves in the iron surface.

These spears were decorated with geometric patterns and engravings. The exhibit had an imitation sword that patrons could lift. I lifted the sword and must admit it was heavier than I thought. This imitation was meant to emulate a battle sword that would have

served as a functional purpose, as it lacked decoration and embellishment. While browsing the weapons section of the gallery, I came across a fun fact about the original horned helmet. Often, the horned helmet is a symbol associated with the vikings in our modern society. I learned that the horned helmet truly made its debut in Richard Wagner’s opera The Ring Cycle in 1876. Though the opera is unrelated to the Viking Age, the performance established an association between horns, Norse mythology, and the vikings. Despite the horned helmet’s fictitious origin and its historical inaccuracy, it still remains a prominent symbol in the viking culture.

Lastly, the viking boat that was reconstructed is a visiting piece from the Swedish History Museum in Stockholm. This reconstruction is made from the remaining wooden timbers of the boat, as it is not uncommon for organic material to rot away. I also came across a reconstruction of Krampmacken’s sail. What I found most interesting is that sails have not survived from the Viking Age; any information we come across is solely based on illustrations on carved stones, fragments of woolen fabric, and experiments with sails on constructed ships. By referring to the images on the Gotland stone, this Krampmacken’s sail could be accurately reconstructed. Overall, this exhibit proved to be filled with accurate information which allows visitors to truly learn about what vikings and their beliefs were, rather than believe inaccurate historical facts.

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FEATURE

News Editor Aaron Panciera news@readthemike.com

No Fixed Address, No Easy Solution Examining Toronto’s homelessness crisis as a human rights issue Aaron Panciera NEWS EDITOR Urban living and homelessness go hand in hand. The bustling culture, the unaffordable housing, and the increasing level of income inequality in the city has led to an undeniable homelessness crisis in Toronto.

that homelessness in Toronto has reached crisis-level proportions.

However, the attempt to solve this issue has left city officials baffled.

The statistics on homelessness provided by the City of Toronto are striking. A total of 5,253 are either sleeping on the streets or in shelters, with almost 500 sleeping on the streets in any given night according to the 2013 “Street Needs Assessment.” 33% of these “outdoor homeless” identify as Aboriginal and 7% of all homeless are veterans of the Canadian military.

While Toronto has the highest total number of homeless in Canada, it has one of the lower numbers of homeless people per capita. In Toronto, an estimated 0.19% of the population is homeless according to The Homeless Hub. To compare, Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver all have higher per capita homeless rates with the homeless making up 0.29%, 0.27%, and 0.27% of each respective population. However, Toronto has recently been dubbed the “income inequality capital of Canada,” and if such trends continue, the city’s homelessness crisis can only worsen.

The death toll for those without a home paints an even more dire portrait, especially as it gets closer to winter. In the first nine months of 2017 alone, 70 homeless people have been reported dead on the streets of Toronto, with, on average, 1.8 homeless people dying per week. The median age of those deceased is 48.

Over the past few years, the City of Toronto has allocated a significant amount of resources toward combatting homelessness.

Ontario recently gave the city $90 million over the next three years for housing assistance and support services. However, this trend of deaths among the homeless, with the median age of death being so low, is shocking for a city with the size and wealth of Toronto. It is clear

Toronto Compared to Other Cities

Emily Paradis, Senior Research Associate at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto (U of T) lists Toronto as similar to many other North American cities in that it’s “a city in which there are intense pressures around the availability and affordability of housing and as a result people with lower incomes and people facing other barriers such as disabilities face major challenges in gaining access to housing markets.”

However, she does identify the Canadian federal government as

Kate Dockeray / THE MIKE.

being particularly poor in addressing homelessness in its cities stating, “That being said, in the Canadian context there’s a considerably lower proportion of social housing provided by the government and by non-profit organizations.”

This is clearly a Canada-wide problem, but what’s particularly concerning about homelessness in Toronto is the fact that in the past 25 years, it’s only gotten worse.

Trends in Toronto Homelessness The number of people facing homelessness in Toronto has been rising steadily for the past decade.

The estimated amount of people facing homelessness from the 2013 “Street Needs Assessment,” a reported 5,253 people, is up from 2009’s estimate of 5,169. The same assessment estimated 4,969 people were facing homelessness in 2006, which would mean that from 2006 to 2013 the amount of individuals who are homeless rose by 5%.

Furthermore, the conditions for homeless people have deteriorated while their numbers have increased.

People who face homelessness in Toronto are out on the streets for an average of seven-and-a-half years.

The number of “street homeless,” those without temporary housing such as a car or a homeless shelter who have to sleep outside, has increased 24% since 2009.

If change does not happen quickly, these trends will only continue to worsen. A 2015 report by United Way states that, “The very structure of opportunity is changing in [Toronto].”

Jennifer Boothby / THE MIKE.

“Factors like the concentration of poverty, deteriorating job quality and income inequality are driving a fundamental shift in how our city works,” the report continues. The numbers support this, as income inequality has risen 31% in Toronto over the last 25 years, whereas income inequality in Canada as a whole has risen only 14% in the same time period. In Toronto especially, the rich are getting richer and the poor poorer, and with that rise the city has seen its homeless

population steadily increase.

Unaffordable and Unsafe Housing Toronto’s homeless do not want to be homeless. According to the City of Toronto, 93% of homeless people polled want a permanent home.

However, in the case of barriers to success that impede upon one’s ability to work, such as mental health disabilities or addiction issues, Toronto rent becomes too expensive and social assistance rates too low. The average rent for a bachelor apartment in Toronto is $942 a month, and the Ontario Works monthly allowance for a single adult is only $706.

Kate Dockeray / THE MIKE.

A general indicator of being in poor economic shape is if at least 30% of income goes to rent. For adults who cannot work because of conditions such as schizophrenia, a condition that affects an estimated 51 million adults worldwide, their only income may be from Ontario Works and other social welfare systems.

Even affordable housing is not enough, as most of Ontario’s efforts with this fail. A YouTube interview with Steven, a man who has been living on and off the streets of Toronto for about 10 years, explains the problem with many shelters and other housing solutions for those facing homelessness.

“They take a whole bunch of homeless people and stick them in

FEATURE one building and they put them on welfare and they expect there not to be any crime in that building,” Steven said. “Well, of course there is going to be crime because everybody doesn’t work. They’re only making a couple of dollars so they gotta do whatever they can to make a few extra bucks.”

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65% of all police-reported human trafficking instances in Canada took place in Ontario.

Toronto Groups Fighting Homelessness

The fact of the matter is that housing alternatives for the homeless tend to be underfunded and dangerous. In New York City shelters alone, there are a reported 32 “critical incidents” a week, or five a day. For many, the risk of dying on the street from the cold are far less great than the risk of being harmed in a shelter.

There are many groups in Toronto alone that are fighting to end chronic homelessness. Among the most prominent of these are Trek for Teens, a non-profit organization that raises funds and awareness for homeless youth in Toronto.

Youth and Women This risk of violence is especially prevalent for homeless youth and women. While homelessness among men is most visible, with the City of Toronto estimating that 65% of the homeless population are men and 85% of the outdoor homeless population are men, Paradis points out that this is not necessarily the case.

“Homelessness statistics often tend to miss women,” Paradis said. “For example, homelessness statistics don’t typically count women who are staying in transition houses and shelters or women fleeing intimate partner violence. When we count those shelter residents, often women equal about half the population of people who could be considered to be homeless.”

Women tend to stay hidden when experiencing homelessness because for them the risk of violence such as sexual assault are significantly higher. Homeless women are also far more likely to have children with them than their male counterparts, furthering the need for secrecy to keep their kids safe.

According to statistics acquired by the Covenant House, a crisis shelter for homeless youth, approximately 20% of the homeless population of Canada are between the ages of 13 and 24, which accounts for about 7,000 youth on any given night.

Living on the streets for these youth is especially dangerous.

Approximately 60% of homeless youth have been the victims of a violent crime, 76% have been the victim of a crime at least once in the 12 months prior to the survey, and over 38% of female homeless youth have been the victims of sexual assault. A whopping 75% of homeless youth ages 16 and 17 have been the victims of a violent crime, and the younger one is, the more likely they are to be the victims of crime. On top of this, being homeless in Toronto specifically becomes even more dangerous as

implemented as early as spring 2017. However, this is the first step Ontario and Toronto need to take in order to ensure affordable, safe, and permanent housing for thousands of Canadians without a home.

Kate Dockeray / THE MIKE.

Balancing Permanent Housing with Crisis Shelters Ultimately, housing is the key issue at the heart of homelessness (as the name would suggest). However, there are two key components to housing: temporary crisis shelters and permanent, affordable housing.

The first is key to ensuring that those facing homelessness have a safe place to stay from weather, crime, etc. Permanent housing, however, is a far more long-term, preventative measure for homelessness. As Paradis points out, though, both are necessary in order to treat homelessness.

However, both of these measures take up significant resources, and recently Canada and Toronto have been focusing much more on the former than the latter. However, there has been a push at both the provincial and municipal level to combat homelessness, and this starts with the $90 million Ontario has pledged to Toronto over the next three years. This money is part of Ontario’s Home for Good program, which targets “chronic homelessness,” defined as being without a home for at least six months. The goals of this funding are to eventually [assist] up to 6,000 families and individuals in supportive housing” and to “support the construction of up to 1,500 new supportive housing units over the long-term,” according to the Home For Good Program Guidelines.

This program, the most expansive long-term housing plan Toronto has had to combat homelessness in decades, is intended for four major areas: chronic homelessness, youth homelessness, Indigenous homelessness, and homelessness following transitions from institutions such as prisons or hospitals.

The effects of this program cannot yet be judged as the program is in its very early stages, having been

“Our goal is to open eyes to the epidemic that teen homelessness has become and make it easier for homeless youth to get out of bad environments,” its website reads.

Since its conception in 2007, Trek for Teens has raised over $66,000 for local shelters. What makes Trek for Teens unique is that it is in many parts run by youth, many of whom are still students (here is the link to get involved: http://trekforteens. com/get-involved/).

They take both donations as well as hold fundraising events, highlighted by the Trek for Teens Race, which is an Amazing Race-style event.

Another major group, The Right to Housing Coalition, helps to promote housing not as an economic issue but as a human rights issue.

“The Right to Housing Coalition is a network of people facing homelessness, legal clinics, service providers, and scholars,” the group states to the City of Toronto. “We have been working together since 2009 to promote the human right to housing that is affordable, decent, safe, and secure.”

Paradis, a member of The Right to Housing Coalition, states that the coalition “was asking the courts to recognize that homelessness was a violation of human rights in Canada and that the governments of Ontario and Canada needed to take proactive measures to prevent homelessness and to ensure that citizens have the right to adequate, affordable housing.”

Slightly different from other groups fighting homelessness, The Right

9

to Housing Coalition fights its battles in court, trying to get the Federal Government of Canada to recognize and act upon its responsibility to provide affordable housing and necessary welfare to those struggling from chronic homelessness.

How Can You Get Involved?

Contrary to what might be popular belief, students can make a real difference when dealing with homelessness. This can be as small as giving away spare change when you have it, or as big as volunteering with an organization like Trek for Teens.

Paradis says that even small acts of kindness make a huge difference, stating that the easiest way to help a homeless person is “by showing empathy and compassion for people they encounter on the streets remembering that everybody is a person, everybody has strengths and skills and ambitions, and everybody deserves an equal right to the basic necessities of life.”

We often forget that homeless people are exactly that: people.

Showing a level of sympathy that you yourself would like to receive when struggling is the first step toward fighting the stigma that surrounds homelessness, and the backwards notion that people facing homelessness do not deserve our attention and our support.

Secondly, on a more macro level, students can call their city councillors, members of Parliament, and members of Provincial Parliament to advocate for affordable housing, increasing and improving homeless shelters, and for improving the conditions of people facing homelessness.

Students are the future of society, and it is with us that the future of human rights rests.

This is an crisis that needs to be talked about. Not as an economic or social issue, but as a human rights issue. For many Torontonians and Canadians alike, it’s a matter of life or death. It’s time we stop looking the other way, and start working towards a solution.

Kate Dockeray / THE MIKE.

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OPINIONS

Opinions Editor Julia Orsini opinions@readthemike.com

“No Dough, No Show”

Why SMCSU needs to have a budget meeting now Mara Ng COPY EDITOR The days grow shorter, the temperature has dropped, and the exam season looms ever closer, which is to say that the newly formed St. Michael’s College Student Union (SMCSU) has much to do to catch up in the following weeks. While the student union gets settled, however, other University of St. Michael’s College (USMC) clubs are forced to play a waiting game contingent on the student union’s timeframe.

In previous years, SMCSU has held the budget meeting earlier in the fall semester to approve club budgets for the academic year. In the last term, it was held in late October throughout the club recognition process. Aside from submitting other documents including constitutions and executive lists, clubs would present their budget estimates for each event or activity planned, and the student union would then decide which items would be approved. This year, however, the club recognition and budget meetings are scheduled for the first week of January 2018, with the documents due on December 8.

With this scheduling delay, clubs are currently forced to operate without knowledge of their real budgets.

Only organizations with student levies are able to fully flesh out their plans for the year with their own funds.

The rest, on the other hand, must rely on the union’s allocation of student resources.

One such example is the SMC Troubadours, the USMC theatre company. As one of the co-financial officers of the company, the executive team and I have been expecting to hear from SMCSU concerning the year’s funds. Without knowledge of even a ballpark figure, the executive team has faced several financial

Bushra Ahmed is a third-year New College student. She studies Neuroscience, and works to bring awareness to mental health and peerto-peer support on campus. She enjoys reading books, obsessing about cats, and crying over deadlines.

When we sat through the 150th anniversary of the House of Commons session, surrounded by 338 leaders of the nation, five ex-prime ministers, and one Justin Trudeau passionately commemorating his promises regarding tax evasion, I knew we were part of history.

The history of everyone gathering for the common cause of leading the nation to a brighter future. For the 14 of the University of Toronto (U of T) students who were present, it was historic to see leadership in action.

The leadership exchange program, a three-year brain child of Sarah Memme and Samantha Hartlen of the University of Toronto Leadership Programs, spanned over the course of three days during reading week.

We were housed in the historic Ottawa Jail Hostel. Our trip started with a visit to Rideau Hall, the Governor General’s residence. On the way, we casually parked in front of 24 Sussex Drive until getting called out by the PM’s security. Highlights of Rideau Hall included indigenous appreciation, representation of female leaders, and expression of the Governor Generals’ morals and leadership style through their crest designs. After a quick lunch, we walked up to the Parliament to attend the question period of the House of Commons Session. We sat through the two-hour questioning period, watching the Conservative Party grill Trudeau over the Paradise Papers. The members’ passion for their community was noted. We were honoured to have Sason Ross, one of the Foreign Affairs Minister’s officials, give us a private tour of the Parliament afterwards. We explored the Indigenous Room and the Senate meeting rooms and learned about how historically changing policies have been passed in said places. It was

planning delays surrounding our season. For weeks, we struggled with formulating a financially viable season.

We imposed fiscally conservative budgets on our shows. Each production team has been forced to work without any assurance that all expenses will be covered by the budget. At this rate, production teams have been concerned with overspending in comparison to the actual budget. Rather than choosing to shell out personal funds for these expenses, the production teams have decided to simply economize and limit their spending.

Although keeping expenditures moderate is the usual system for the company, functioning without a budget enforces many limits on productions. Instead of allowing producers the freedom to elevate shows to their maximum potential, the fear of spending beyond the budget has restrained their creativity.

These monetary issues that could be solved with a timely-scheduled budget meeting have unfortunately continued to grow as the deadlines for club forms and budgets are set halfway through the 2017–18 term.

It can be said that the delay is due to many reasons.

One may be that the effects of the disbandment of SMCSU in the 2016–17 term has caused many issues and delays for the college. Another is that the elections were held later than in previous years. And another may be that SMCSU does not even have a VP of Finance.

With nearly a month over since the creation of the

new student union, it is a great disappointment that there have been no SMCSU events held yet. In spite of students’ excitement over the revitalization of the community, there has been little noticeable progress so far from the new SMCSU. Even Brennan, which used to be USMC’s student hub, continues to resemble a shockingly quiet and empty library more than a student lounge.

With all the pressures of university, having a sense of community and involvement within your college truly makes an impact. Students want to have new experiences and have time to relax in the midst of midterms and deadlines. Without the support of SMCSU, students lack many opportunities to engage with the St. Mike’s community. Even if SMCSU itself did not host events, clubs, with their budgets coming from the student union, could offer students fun and enriching events.

Looking at the example of the Troubadours, there is clearly a domino effect as delays from SMCSU have resulted in delays within the company. The current lack of fixed funds entails delays in paying for theatre spaces, rights, and other expenses. And unfortunately for the company and other clubs alike, as the quote from Three Amigos (1986) goes, “no dough, no show.”

Mara Ng is a fourth-year USMC student who is studying English, Classical Civilizations, and Latin. She also serves as the co-CFO for the SMC Troubadours, as a Connect Mentor. In previous years, she has also worked as an Orientation Leader for USMC.

One Who Shows the Way

Discovering leadership in the heart of Canada Bushra Ahmed CONTRIBUTOR

refreshing to see Sason’s approachability as a young leader and his willingness to help others after the gruelling questioning period.

The next day we headed to the Glebe Neighbourhood. We started our day with a scavenger hunt, which was an interactive beginning to know the neighbourhood. Afterwards we headed to the Glebe Neighbourhood Activity Group (GNAG) to talk with the directors, Tim and Ally. They provided us with an amazing homecooked lunch while enlightening us about how GNAG worked. Every staff member of the GNAG had their positions designed specifically for themselves. It was a highly collaborative environment, and Tim and Ally emphasized much on working directly with the community and never losing sight of GNAG’s goals. Their statements provided an alternate perspective from the Parliament’s authoritative and bureaucratic take on leadership. It was a delight to see the community’s strength and commitment being passed through multiple generations.

We headed to the University of Ottawa (UOttawa) in the afternoon and were warmly welcomed by the students and staff. We sat down and chatted about our thoughts on leadership, built houses with M&M’s, and toured their beautiful campus. UOttawa students were surprised by our diverse leadership styles and experiences, and we were grateful to have had a stimulating conversation with them about community leadership.

On our final day, we went to Carleton University and the Shopify headquarters. In Carleton, we sat down with staff members to talk about leadership in their roles.

Interestingly, leadership had evolved and molded into a unique form to accommodate for their roles. One remark, “Look at leadership roles beyond titles,” made me realize that we do not need a designated title to be a leader in our community — rather it is through applying our skills and strategizing our experiences that we make an impact.

At Shopify, our last stop, we were privileged to ask questions from a panel of team directors who accommodated us in every issue, from sustainability, to business models, and to wage equality in the company.

Shopify was one of the coolest workspaces to have existed. From themed floors, to free food, and giant slides throughout the entire office, it was amazing to see how the company had accommodated their employees to ensure maximum potential. The panel had strongly encouraged that we focus on self awareness and honesty to be great leaders, and that the willingness to adapt and open dialogue for the betterment of the organization was important. It was an eye-opening experience to see the ever-changing professional environment that ensures a collaborative and safe environment for its employees to thrive in. It brings in the revenue, boosts the company’s morale, and everyone goes home happy.

As we spent our very last night in the Clocktower Pub chatting about our experiences and reflecting, we realized how much we learned not only from the sites visited but also from our team members. We learned to work together as a team and have became like family only over the span of a week. We all had a common purpose: to be better leaders of the community.

OPINIONS

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11

In Defense of the Hudson Settlement

11 days before the commencement of her trial, Sandy Hudson and the UTSU reached a settlement with regards to allegations of her committing “fraud and theft” Arnold Yung CONTRIBUTOR The two-year lawsuit over the former University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) Executive Director ended with a whimper. In its official statement, the UTSU declared that Hudson has “voluntarily agreed to repay a portion of the overtime payments.” Ambiguity to the actual amount of money Sandy Hudson would pay back and the nature of how the settlement was reached led to vindication and scorn. Former engineering director, Andrew Sweeny, has told The Varsity that “it was a poor deal,” whilst Vice President External Anne Boucher had voted against the proposed settlement.

dent from 2008 to 2010. Enduring countless incidents and attacks on her name, Sandy continues to have a strong influence within the University of Toronto. Her tenure as Chairwoman of the Canadian Federation of Students — Ontario means that her network extends beyond campuses and universities (Ryerson’s Student Union had nearly cut its ties with the UTSU). Not to mention her role within the Black Lives Matter Movement Toronto (BLMTO) and the Black Liberation Collective (BLC) allows her to utilize strong leverage on the UTSU through the prism of social justice.

Yet the settlement is not entirely a “poor deal.” Rather, it was in the best interest for the UTSU to have ended the lawsuit as soon as it could. The fact that it could recover a portion of overtime fees is better than nothing. The lawsuit was a cumbersome obstacle that had plagued the UTSU for far too long. Getting rid of it frees the incumbent student union to focus on actual policies rather than wasting it on a risky expedition.

It must be noted that this is not to dismiss racism and anti-blackness as mere semantics — these are important issues to address. Rather, Hudson effectively shifted the focus on her allegations of fraud to her alleging the UTSU of being racist. Whether her claims of being harassed and/or mistreated by UTSU executives were true or not, pressure from the BLC and Sandy’s clever manipulation of the situation makes the lawsuit a political issue favourable to her.

Pundits had argued that the UTSU has a huge leverage over Sandy Hudson. After all, her entitlement to $247,726.40 based on 2,589.5 overtime hours “as part of her severance package” that she had clocked a day before resigning sounded ludicrous. However, they failed to realize that Sandy is not just another regular student executive. With a long history of involvement in student politics, Hudson is an experienced politician in student affairs, having been UTSU’s Presi-

Hudson’s tactics would not have worked if she was up against an iron institution. Yet, divisions and controversy within Board of Directors meetings show UTSU’s inability to challenge her effectively. With the current justice system at an overloaded capacity, it would take a painful amount of time for legal court cases to fully process, as usually half of these cases went unsettled or were incomplete. As such, this would have placed an enormous financial burden on the UTSU, with re-

sources that would be used for implementing policies being taken away to support the costly legal process.

Not to mention annual changes in leadership make it difficult for the UTSU to have a coherent understanding on the lawsuit. With the exceptions of long-time executives such as Mathias Memmel and Daman Singh, incoming executives would have found the lawsuit difficult to comprehend. Added on by pressure from groups such as the BLC and BLMTO, executives on the Board of Directors would have been compelled to get rid of the lawsuit.

Although the settlement is not ideal, it is in the best interest for the UTSU to end this deal quickly. Continuing the lawsuit would have placed more financial burden on the already fragile student union, consuming resources that could have been otherwise used for the student body.

To prevent such messy situations from happening in the future, the UTSU needs to implement tougher regulations on salary and executives’ conduct. The twoyear limit on executive positions is a good start to curb away nepotism and corruption, but more enforcement and transparency is needed for the conduct of executives.

Arnold Yung is a recent USMC graduate. He studied History and Political Science.

Jagmeet Singh: A New Chapter How a young, visible minority will shape the future of the NDP Nazanin Zarepour CONTRIBUTOR On October 1, Jagmeet Singh won the leadership position for the New Democratic Party (NDP). Singh, winning the first ballot, came out on top with strong results, making up approximately 53.8% of the vote. A win from the first ballot has only been seen with two other NDP leaders, Tommy Douglas and Jack Layton — a manifestation of his charismatic appeal and the bright future he holds for the party.

Jagmeet Singh represents a new chapter for the NDP. At the age of 38, this GQ-covering fashionable GTAer is the youngest and first visible minority leader the party has ever had. His position as a young person of colour from the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) gives him the ability to appeal to demographics the NDP has had trouble appealing to before.

Not only can he become a strong voice for the downtown core and the GTA, but he also has the ability to appeal to immigrant communities with his ideals surrounding equality and inclusion. For example, Singh has been a major figure speaking out against police carding in Ontario, which has disproportionately affected younger men of colour.

Though Singh has many advantages and offers a new perspective to the NDP and federal elections in general, he has been met with criticism from progressives and conservatives alike.

Some accusations from the left have been that he is a “closet Liberal,” while others have been skeptical whether a turban-wearing politician can win a federal election. But Singh is far from a Liberal. A quick look at his website

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highlights his devotion to income inequality — he supports a $15 minimum wage, a progressive reform on income taxation, and corporate taxation among many other things on his agenda.

Above all, what makes him a leader that carries a new chapter for the NDP is his position on the decriminalization of drugs. In order to deal with the current Canadian opioid crisis, Singh brightly refers to Portugal’s successful 10-year example in which they legalized drugs to deal with opioid addiction. As an alarming number of people in Canada are dying from fentanyl, the current crisis requires such a progressive agenda in which Singh attacks the issue as a matter of health care and not a criminal problem.

We offer Staff Columnist tags to any USMC student who contributes to three of our 12 issues this year. Columnist status entitles you to voting rights in next year’s masthead elections and will even net you a CCR credit!

Singh winning the NDP leadership is putting Canada’s idea of tolerance, diversity, and equality into practice.

He carries a voice for the youth and the radicalized that an NDP leader has never quite managed to before. He may be the leader to fully drive the NDP message to the evergrowing minority electorate and finally take Liberal- or Tory-dominated ridings in the GTA. Singh offers a young, new, and fresh take on politics that we, as students, are able to access and support.

Nazanin Zarepour is a third-year University College student doublemajoring in Political Science and Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations.

No prior newspaper writing experience is required, and there’s no application to fill out. All you need to do is email either opinions@readthemike.com or editorinchief@readthemike.com and tell us what’s on your mind; we’d be happy to hear from you. If you’ve got something to say, just speak into The Mike.

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Logos Editor Francesco Rampino logos@readthemike.com

The Gilson Seminar

LOGOS

A look at USMC’s new SMC One course Andrea Battista CONTRIBUTOR

Monday mornings are probably the bane of many students here at St Mike’s. But for a handful of first-years, getting out of bed on that dreadful Monday morning is slightly more manageable as they head to their 10 a.m. lecture at the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies (PIMS). These students, although tired, know that they are at the start of something special, as they make up the inaugural class of the Gilson Seminar. This year, the University of St. Michael’s College (USMC) has officially introduced its new One course, titled “The Gilson Seminar in Faith and Ideas.”

As its title suggests, the Gilson Seminar (named after one of St. Mike’s past professors, the late Étienne Gilson) aims to explore faith and its integration in today’s society, as well as how it relates to key questions in subjects such as science, world politics, ecology, and media. Students are given the opportunity to recognize how faith is connected to our lives on a personal level as well as on a global level. Rebekah Lamb, one of the two postdoctoral fellows chosen for the Seminar, said, “The Gilson Seminar takes faith seriously, both as a category of knowledge and as an illuminating presence in culture. [It also] explores how faith, in concert with reason, can help us to further explore the

mystery, beauty, and difficulty of existence.”

The Seminar’s namesake was a French scholar who came to the University of Toronto in 1927 and later founded PIMS (located at 59 Queen’s Park Crescent East), as he wanted to build a community of Catholic scholars like himself. He emphasized the importance of the sense of belonging within a large society, such as that which we might find within our own university. This is the backbone of the Gilson Seminar, as not only are the 40 students who make it up classmates, but they are also a close group of friends. All of them are experiencing university across many different disciplines, yet are brought together by the spirit of bonding which emanates from that which they study in this Seminar. With a diverse number of students coming from all of the sciences, humanities, and commerce programs, the Gilson Seminar is the realization of not only Gilson’s dream, but also that which USMC wishes for its students.

The founder of the Gilson Seminar as well as our College Principal and Vice President, Professor Randy Boyagoda, arrived at USMC hoping to create this Seminar to explore how faith and ideas are alive in

Courtesy of Peter O’Hagan.

our culture. He also wished for this Seminar to be a way through which students may be easily introduced to university-level studies within a small setting. He stated, “Faith and ideas are two major aspects of the course. However, community is also important as faith and ideas are the common ground to unify first-years across multiple disciplines, backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences.” Almost two years later, the plan has been put into fruition, bringing to light how people can be lead together and explore a common interest.

This spring, the Seminar will step out of the classroom and head to Rome. For 10 days, the students will explore how culture has developed from the integration of faith and ideas. Boyagoda finished by saying, “I cannot wait until we head to Rome where faith and ideas is alive in culture.” This program is a whole new beginning of building a community through a collective exploration of the Catholic intellectual tradition and what it can reveal to us about human experience when it comes to ecology, science, politics, and literature.

Why Study Religion?

An exploration from several perspectives Thomas Williams CONTRIBUTOR ‘Religious Studies’ is, perhaps, one of the strangest academic disciplines out there because of its desire to answer one of the thorniest, most uncomfortable questions in human life: what is religion? The reason this is a difficult question is equally difficult to explain.

Religion fits into a wide variety of contexts. It is political, social, ideological, anthropological, and biological all at once, leading to an equally large number of ways to approach and understand religion. Complicating the matter more is the fact that human beings care so much about religion; any conclusion about what religion is will doubtlessly lead to some people’s beliefs being left out and others being included. Still, a number of scholars from varied backgrounds have thrown themselves at this conundrum, and their results are as enlightening as they are difficult to accept. My goal in this article is to merely explore the questions from several perspectives.

USMC Faculty of Theology Convocation (USMC).

To begin this investigation, we must first know what exactly we’re looking for. A proper definition of religion must identify the thing (or things) which is common

among all religions and absent amid secular philosophies. To set us on the right path, let’s talk about Walter Burkert, one of the 20th century’s greatest scholars of ancient Greek religion. Burkert approaches religion from an anthropological perspective and tries to find its origin in Homo Necans. What interests Burkert is a sustained tradition of ritual which has its origins in Neolithic humanity. For Burkert, this is the core of religion — rituals which in their basic shape describe life, death, and rebirth. Burkert explains the origin of religious rites, but the world of today is far removed from that of cave-dwelling hunters or Greek hierophants.

Yet religious traditions and beliefs still hold sway so there must be more to religion than just a set of practices.

The Romanian comparative mythologist Mircea Eliade and his seminal work, The Sacred and the Profane, can help us understand religion as it relates to the individual. Eliade studied religion as a pattern of thought which existed across humanity in every religious tradition and as a part of human life rather than just as an organised ritual tradition. In his book, he argues that there are two ways of experiencing the world, one profane and one sacred. In the profane mode, everything is as it appears and is meaningless. In the sacred mode, the world reflects a reality beyond itself and thus can become a way of communing with the holy.

For example, in the profane view the sun is just a ball of gas, but once the lens of the sacred is applied to it, the sun can become a manifestation of Ra and the cycle of his death and rebirth. In the sacred mode, things become meaningful, and we are able to put our lives in the context of a greater reality which transcends our ephemeral existence. For Eliade, there is no difference between the non-religious person and the religious

one because they share a pattern of thought and they both find meaning and purpose in actions and objects which, in their view, are sacred. While Eliade’s theory is beautiful, it is amazingly broad. It ties together religions which conceive of the holy and the divine fundamentally differently and assumes there is some central

Students of Ancient History and Theology, and Religious Studies at the University of Leeds (UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS).

truth which makes them the same in a way which is insultingly simple.

While both Burkert and Eliade provide an interesting and complete definition of religion in their work, both sets of ideas come from very different perspectives and arrive at conclusions which understand religion in fundamentally different ways. Perhaps it is wrong to claim that any theorist can concoct a complete definition of religion; rather, each has assembled some part of a larger equation. Eliade explores the thought process behind belief, while Burkert investigates the origins of organized ritual. Both these perspectives are valuable to understanding religion as a human phenomenon which impacts all parts of life and all fields of study.

SCIENCE & TECH

Science & Tech Editor Jiaxing Huang science@readthemike.com

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Looking Ahead Assessing the future of science and technology in Canada Jiaxing Huang SCIENCE & TECH EDITOR Although Canada itself is a young nation that has only been established since 1867, its contribution to humanity in terms of science and technology has been tremendous. In 1908, Lord Ernest Rutherford discovered the concept of radioactive half-life at McGill University. In 1921, Sir Frederick Banting and his assistant Dr. Charles Best discovered and isolated insulin at the University of Toronto (U of T). In 1963, Mr. Ernest McCulloch and Mr. James Till discovered the existence of stem cells, and finally in the early 1980s, the Input Research Group at U of T pioneered multi-touch technology. With only a population of 35 million, Canada has produced 25 Noble Laureates, ranked 9th in the world.

Not only that, but according to the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), created by 15-year-old high school students by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 2015, Canadian students ranked 10th around the world in terms of mathematic literacy, and 7th around the world in terms of science literacy. This is really good considering that the U.S. ranked 40th in terms of mathematic literacy and 25th in terms of science literacy, while the U.K. ranked 27th in terms of mathematic literacy and 15th in terms of science literacy. In fact, Canadian high school students performed far better than most of the non-Asian developed countries in terms of science and mathematics.

Nevertheless, despite the fact that the high school stu-

dents in Canada have achieved such good results in science and mathematics, Canada is starting to lose its competitive edge to other countries (especially those in Asia) at the university level and beyond. This is reflected in the dropping of Canadian universities in different university rankings. For example, in the 2018 Times Higher Education Ranking, U of T ranked 22nd place, down by two places when compared to 2015, when it was ranked 20th place in the world. That goes the same for the University of British Columbia (UBC).

In the 2018 Times Higher Education Ranking, UBC was ranked 34th place in the world, done by 2 places when compared to 2015, when it was ranked 32nd place.

On the other hand, Asian universities are catching up fast. For example, in the 2015 Times Higher Education Ranking, the National University of Singapore was ranked 25th, Peking University was ranked 48th, and the University of Hong Kong was ranked 43rd. Then in the 2018 Times Higher Education Ranking, the National University of Singapore increased to 22nd place (the same as U of T), Peking University jumped to 27th place, and the University of Hong Kong increased to 40th place.

There are many reasons behind this increase in the university rankings of Asian universities, but the most important one is that their governments want to invest a huge amount of money and resources to develop scientific research and development (R&D) in their universities. For example, in 2015, the government of Sin-

gapore announced that it would raise its science and technology research budget to 19 billion Singapore dollars (approximately 18 billion Canadian dollars) over the next five years in order to boost its competitiveness in science and technology. Also in 2015, China announced that it would increase its R&D budget to 2.5% of its GDP by 2020. OECD had already predicted that China will overtake the U.S. in terms of R&D expenditure by 2019. Thus, in the future, we can see even fiercer competition from Asian countries in science and technological innovations.

Yet, while Asian countries such as China and Singapore are trying their best to catch up in science and technology, Canada is slowing down. In fact according to a report released by the Science, Technology and Innovation Council in 2015, from 2007 to 2014, Canada’s overall investment in business R&D dropped by over $1 billion, and Canada’s ranking in expenditure on R&D had fallen from 18th place around the world in 2006 to 26th place in the world in 2013. During April of this year, thousands of Canadian scientists and common people marched in 19 locations across Canada to voice their concern about the cut in scientific funding. This serves as a warning call to Ottawa because if the government does not do anything about it then Canada, the country that had once produced 25 Noble Laureates, will lag behind in the innovation race of the 21st century.

Hyperloop: Future or Fraud?

Hyperloop travel will remain in science fiction; the hazards are high and its dimensions too large Yinan Liu CONTRIBUTOR In current society, there is no doubt that transportation plays a huge role in keeping people connected. Finding a faster, cheaper, and safer way of mass transportation has been a topic of interest all over the world.

Recently, a concept has reappeared in the public eye — vacuum tube transportation. The design is based on a very simple concept: to reduce air resistance and drag created by vehicle body. We know that when a vehicle speed exceeds 85 km/h, resistance created by a mechanical issue is not the one that’s slowing the movement down, but a drag created by the air. That’s why modern cars also need to take aerodynamics into consideration. The same with trains; when we try to design a fast-moving metal box, we create trains like TGV, ICE I, CRH, and Shinkansen. These train designs all take aerodynamics into consideration. Yet this approach has its limitations, as there is only so much we can do to improve train shape to make it stable in high speed and effective in puncturing through air. So, what should we do?

Unlike road vehicles, trains run on a fixed path. However, this raises the following question: Why don’t we just remove air from the start? After all, if there is no air, there is no drag. This concept was first introduced in 1799 by George Medhurst, and was since then discussed as a “futuristic concept transportation,” as they imagine that in the future, technology will solve every problem that prevents putting this form of transportation to daily use.

Here, I will be debunking this myth. This type of vehicle should and will remain in science fiction, since neither technology nor society are ready for this thing to work.

The first thing we face is to create a tube that can hold the train with all its rail components inside. Currently our train’s dimension, using a standard 1,345 millimeterm rail, is around 3,150 millimeters by 4,280 millimeters (cross section, universal cart). This is taking into consideration that people can walk around in the cart and have a reasonable amount of comfortable space.

To contain this size cart, we need a tube that has a radius greater than 2,657 millimeters without taking rail into consideration. Let’s say the rail is special and requires only a layer of smooth surface; the radius of the tube is still going to be near 3 meters. This is a HUGE pipe. However, it seems that the train will have passengers sitting on their chairs at all times, and have less head room than an airplane. This will reduce the size of the tube and increase the uncomfortableness of riding in the train. Claustrophobic much? Also, seamless tubes cost a lot more when they come in larger diameters.

Even if we got the tube, based on the concept, we need to get most of the air out of the tube to reduce drag. With a tube that is going to stretch hundreds of thousands of kilometers, that is a lot of air to be removed.

Propellant is also a challenge: magnetic levitation methods like maglev was the initial idea. However, since air caster is not helping the train with lifting, a lot of work load is applied to the levitation system to keep the train floating and moving forward. It is possible, but based on the current existing maglev system, we can’t say much hope can be put into this.

Maintenance of the entire system will also be considerably harder and expensive, since all parts are enclosed in a vacuum. If one section needs repair, the whole system needs to shut down, as people can’t work in a vacuum. Even if we put those workers in space suits and add air lock to the tube (which can let the train continue running), the darkness in the tube and fast-moving trains are still hazardous. Not to mention the correction to the tube by natural occurrence; as the tube wall gets thinner, the huge pressure difference between the tube and outside can cause a huge disaster.

Speaking of disasters, the rail is almost the perfect place for an accident to happen. With a high vacuum and enclosed environment, the tube obstructs rescue.

If there is an accident, passengers will suffocate in minutes. For that reason and more, although the idea of vacuum tube transportation sounds rosy, I believe that this technology will not be commercialized in the near future.

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SPORTS

Sports Editor Ben Denomme sports@readthemike.com

Remembering Roy

Toronto mourns the loss of a Blue Jays legend Jonfranco Monaco CONTRIBUTOR November 7, 2017 marks the tragic death of beloved Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Roy “Doc” Halladay. Piloting his Icon A5 airplane over the Gulf of Mexico, Halladay crashed due to reasons unknown at this time. Air traffic control in the area received mayday calls prior to the crash, and upon arrival, rescue teams found the aircraft upside down in very shallow water.

Born in Denver, Colorado, Halladay’s father was a pilot, and his mother, a stay-at-home. From when he was just a young boy, Halladay maintained a never-faltering sense of passion toward the sport of baseball. By the age of 13, he had been training privately to forward his baseball career, and upon graduating high school in 1995, Halladay was drafted 17th overall to the Toronto Blue Jays. Three years later, after playing in the minor leagues, Halladay was called up to the Jays, and would begin his major league career.

Roy Halladay (Andy Lyons / GETTY IMAGES).

Halladay’s career started off rather rocky, as after three seasons, he was sent back down to the minor league due to a 10.64 earned run average (ERA), and overall poor performance in 2000. After it was realized that his ERA was so high due to his speedy yet stiff fastball, Halladay made changes to his game, which would see

his return to the Jays by mid-season in 2001.

It was in 2002 that Halladay’s dominance over Major League Baseball (MLB) would begin, earning him the nickname “Doc” for his laser-precision over home plate. Finishing with a 19–7 record, coupled with a 2.93 ERA, Halladay earned a spot on the American All-Star Team roster.

Halladay’s conquest was continued in 2003, recording a 22–7 record with a 3.25 ERA in 266 innings. As well, he pitched the first extra-innings shutout since Jack Morris in 1991, paving the way for him to undisputedly earn the Cy Young Award at the end of the season.

The top-notch performance of Roy Halladay persisted through 2006, landing him a $40-million contract extension lasting until 2010. In April 2007, Halladay was named the MLB’s Pitcher of the Month. In 2009, Halladay set a Blue Jays franchise record, starting for the 7th straight opening day ball game. In December of that same year, Sports Illustrated named Roy Halladay one of the five pitchers in the MLB All-Decade Team’s starting rotation.

However, with an already-strong pitching team, Halladay excluded, the Toronto Blue Jays decided it was in their best interest to trade Roy to the Philadelphia Phillies on December 15, 2009, where he agreed to a $60-million contract extension, with an option for a $20-million extra year. On April 21, 2010, Halladay pitched his first shutout in the National League against the Atlanta Braves. On May 1, he pitched his second shutout. By the end of the season, Halladay became the first Phillies pitcher to win 20 games in a season since 1982.

The pinnacle of Halladay’s career occurred on May

Jennifer Boothby / THE MIKE.

29, 2010, when he pitched the 20th perfect game in MLB history, retiring all 27 batters while recording 11 strikeouts, and disallowing any hits, walks, or errors in the process.

On December 9, 2013, Halladay signed a symbolic one-day contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, allowing him to retire in the city which he called home for so many years.

As proven by his stellar performance over his relatively lengthy career, Roy Halladay truly was one of the greatest to ever pitch in the MLB. What happened this week was tragic, and although he is gone, his historic play will remain with us forever. Rest in peace, Doc.

Not All That Glitters Is Gold The Vegas Golden Knights’ rough first season

Hannah MacDonald CONTRIBUTOR You could compare the start of the Vegas Golden Knights’ season to a guy who has won all evening at the poker table, then loses everything in a few rounds, only to find himself digging his own grave in the desert with the mafia behind him.

The Golden Knights’ luck has surely run out for the time being with the goalie fiasco they are currently facing. The Knights started the season off with goaltender Marc-André Fleury, who quickly received a knee to the head and is now out with a concussion.

Their backup, Malcolm Subban, received a lower body injury while attempting to make a save against the Blue Jackets and is also currently out. Then their third string goalie, AHL call-up, Oscar Dansk was next in line, but seemingly slipped on an invisible banana peel in his crease, fell, and received a lower body injury as well.

With three goalies on injured reserve, Vegas called up Maxime Lagace who was in net against the Leafs Monday night, and of course was clipped in his crease by the Leafs’ Zach Hyman in the second period.

Fortunately, Lagace was able to shake it off and prevent another goalie change. This time it would have been 19-year-old Dylan Ferguson, the emergency callup who currently plays for the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers and doesn’t even have an image pop up on the Vegas

roster page.

Despite the goal-tending issues this team is facing, they are doing well for a brand-new organization.

Vegas boasts nine wins, four losses, and currently sits in second place in the Pacific division, trailing the Los Angeles Kings by two points. Players such as James Neal, Reilly Smith, and David Perron have led to the team’s success, leading the team in points and goals.

Neal was acquired from Nashville, Smith from Florida, and Perron from St. Louis. These players were snapped up as a result of the Expansion Draft, which allowed them to select 30 players, one from each NHL team.

Darryl Dyck / THE CANADIAN PRESS.

Teams that wanted to protect their players were allowed the following choices: a) choose seven forwards, three defensemen, and one goalie, or b) eight skaters (forward/defenseman) and one goalie.

There were additional rules such as “no movement” clauses that were protected, and all first- and secondyear professionals and unsigned draft choices were exempt.

Although, even with the favourable options that the Expansion Draft provides, sports sites such as The Hockey News had predictions before the start of the season that the Knights would be “one of the worst teams of the modern era this year.” Clearly Vegas is surpassing that expectation and is continuing to play with high intensity despite the setbacks it continues to face. Counting a team out before it even begins to play is not necessarily wise as it was able to obtain a lot of talented players when assembling the team.

It will be very interesting to see how much further the Knights progress once their starting and backup goalies Fleury and Subban return to the ice. If they continue to have a strong offensive game and regain their star goalies, the Knights will be sure to gain more wins and become a competitive challenger for the other seasoned teams in the NHL.

FEATURES

Features Editor Téana Graziani features@readthemike.com

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What Are We Remembering?

The importance of reminiscing on Remembrance Day Second-Lieutenant, Mateo Moreno CONTRIBUTOR The time of year has come again when millions of Canadians don poppies in a solemn gesture of mourning and national remembrance. For nearly a century now, the poppy has been used as symbol to commemorate the 117,000 Canadians who have given their lives so that we may live ours.

always appreciate in our daily lives. This year marks several significant milestones in our nation’s military heritage. Celebrating several key campaigns led and fought by Canadians.

Among these, the centennial of the Battle of Vimy Ridge was commemorated this year in April. It was a battle that would solidify Canada’s reputation as a force to be reckoned with. It was the first time in our nation’s history that all 4 Divisions of the Canadian Army fought side by side, comprised of men from all corners of our country. Brigadier-General A.E. Ross is recorded as saying, “In those few minutes I witnessed the birth of a nation.” Truly, an incredible feat for our young country.

From battles such as these our nation was forged.

From Vimy Ridge, to Passchendaele through to the Second World War, time and time again we have proven ourselves ready and eager to answer the call to duty. Each and every time, we have punched above our weight.

Jennifer Boothby / THE MIKE.

My experience as an Officer in the Canadian Armed Forces Primary Reserve has given me the unique perspective of working, training and serving as a Canadian soldier, while enjoying the comforts of civilian life.

It has taught me the value and the fulfillment of service as well as the duty we all share to remember those who came before, perhaps not something we

In the First World War Canada contributed 650,000 men and women to the service of peace. An incredible contribution for a country of only 8 million people at the time. Again, in the Second World War, 1 million Canadians would serve overseas, and since then, over 125,000 have participated in nearly 50 United Nations peacekeeping missions. More recently, and at the forefront of our collective memory, was the campaign in Afghanistan in which 40,000 Canadian soldiers would serve.

Our young nation has sacrificed much in the fight for peace and international stability. We have become known around the world for our compassion, our strength, and our insatiable desire to help others.

Through our reputation as warriors, humanitarians, and good neighbours we have forged a legacy and an identity. One of humility and service. Wearing the poppy each year is indeed an act of mourning, but it is also an act of celebration. Celebrating the lives of those who served, and those who continue to serve.

A celebration of Canada’s living history. A continuing story of courage and sacrifice from which we built this great nation.

This is a legacy that must be passed on. Every day there remain fewer veterans to recount for the tales of Canada’s historic battles. The duty and the honour to carry forward this message and this legacy has been passed onto us Canadians. In the immortal words of John McCrae, “To you from failing hands we throw / The torch; be yours to hold it high.” For this, we must continue to acknowledge and support our Canadian Armed Forces and our veterans, so that we may remember the sacrifice of our forbearers not just once a year, but every day.

Canadians can rest assured that the Canadian Armed Forces will continue to be a light in the world, as we carry forward in the footsteps of those heroes who have served before us. Something we must never take for granted.

Lest We Forget…

Keeping Your Cool

Managing everyday stresses Noah Hehn CONTRIBUTOR Stress. You know it, I know it, we all know it. It can occupy your body. It can occupy your soul. It can also occupy your mind. From sun up to sun down, it can consume you – if you let it. There is a common meme that states “diamonds are made under pressure” but the connotation is usually sarcastic.

I don’t claim to be an expert at handling stress. I let it consume me. As a humanities student, my self-proclaimed finest hours are those right before papers are due. Somewhere in the distance, I can hear professors, parents, and even high school teachers saying, “This could have been avoided!” but let’s be honest, not many of us heed this call.

University can be a tough place. Your social life, classes, and sleep are kept in an uneasy balance – if there is “balance.” There’s much more stimuli with each professor thinking that their class is your only class and blindly prescribing homework.

The experience is common.

Because of this, there are many resources available at your disposal. St. Mike’s has a personal psychiatrist you can book an appointment with. The University of Toronto (U of T) Health Services does too.

And I know personally how hard it is to reach out for help when you feel like the proverbial house is burning. But understand that there are people looking out

for you. This includes professors, who, believe it or not were once in your shoes too! They’re not all robots!

So, what are some other ways of dealing with stress?

Surround yourself with friends. Go out for a jog, if that’s your thing. Try something new. Take some time to yourself. With deadlines, I know that it might seem counterproductive but these things help change your mindset and refocuse you and help you zero in on your goals.

Managing stress is important, especially since it is unfortunately an unavoidable part of our lives. It will be tough. You’ll need help, or at least someone to vent to. But you’ll become better and at dealing with it, and it will become easier.

That being said, for the most part I’ve conquered academic stress. However, this isn’t the only stress that we as students face. For managing other stresses, I carry no complete solution.

We all come from different backgrounds, different experiences, and carry with us different baggage.

The only words I can give are that we should realize this fact and with it in mind, be more compassionate

Josephine Ng / THE MIKE.

toward others.

Reach out if someone’s bogged down. Don’t persist, but let them know you’re there. Listen rather than advise. But most importantly be there. If you think there’s something wrong don’t be afraid to reach out on behalf of someone else.

University is supposed to be the best years of your life, and the stress that comes with it is inevitable. If you think of stress as a test, make sure to acknowledge that it is open book. Some thrive under stress, some barely manage to scrape by.

And at the end of the day, remember that thousands graduate this institution every year – only proving that there truly is a light at the end of the tunnel.

By students, for students.

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FEATURES

Features Editor Téana Graziani features@readthemike.com

Students of St. Mike’s, V2.0: The “Talkies” Pran Sathiy CONTRIBUTOR of opinions and banter amongst the so-called “mainstays” of Brennan Hall quickly became a means to showcase their well-constructed articles stemming from their diverse viewpoints.

Talkies Network (Pran Sathiy / THE MIKE).

“The mission statement of this site is to badger you all with our thoughts on various aspects of pop-culture. Hopefully those of you reading this ‘about us’ section want to know these thoughts, but if not I would invite you to partake, as they’re pretty cool. Anyway this site is run by three amazing individuals (no biases here) who love every aspect of pop-culture, even the bad ones. This site will act as a gateway for all of you to relieve the stress you feel in your daily lives, or possibly worsen it if our opinions piss you off. If that is the case, just remember that you can close the tab.

Anyway, we hope you enjoy the site, because you chose to be here just like we did.”

How did you come up with Talkies Network?

Nick: All of us had a passion for film in general. We’d talk about wanting to do something with that passion but you know, school keeps you pretty busy as it is. Then I started a blog called Nick’s Cinematic World which I used to write movie reviews and editorials. Kind of a stress relief thing above all. It wasn’t until February 2017 where all three of us really got together and said, “You know what, let’s just do this. Let’s put our love for movies and TV to good use.” And so, Nick’s Cinematic World was shut down and we started “Talkies.” For a while we decided to still only focus on opinion-related stuff like reviews and editorials. I was the one that started covering news because it was much easier to upload and we could do a lot of it. JJ and Artur followed soon after and that’s what lead us to today.

What do you get when you put together a pop-culture motley crew featuring a Rotman commerce student, an English student, and a philosophy student? A bunch of senile, hysterical, and honest media critics who tell all things pop-culture how it is.

Nick Poulimenakos, Matthew (JJ) Simoes, and Artur Galvao are all thirdyear students at the University of St. Michael’s College (USMC) with all six senses geared toward all things movies, comics, television, and video games.

What started as just an amalgamation

Nick Poulimenakos (Pran Sathiy / THE MIKE).

How was the transition from a simple “fireside” chat on all things pop-culture into something potentially much larger, and to a larger audience?

The Mike Publications Inc. Board of Directors Election The Mike is by students, and for students. It is published by The Mike Publications Inc. (a non-profit corporation), and so, it is governed not by the University of St. Michael’s College (USMC) but by a Board of Directors (BOD) that consists in part of USMC students.

The BOD’s other positions are primarily appointed or automatically elected. The BOD consists, in full, of: The Mike’s current Editor-In-Chief and Business Manager, 1 current Mike staff member (elected by The Mike’s staff), 1 faculty member appointed by USMC, 1 representative appointed by the Alumni Board, and 4 USMC student members.

maybe make a movie one day. As for the site itself, I’d personally like to see it grow into a real Hollywood news outlet.

One that gets invited to press junkets and gets early access to films, for example. JJ would definitely like to write comics one day. He’s a gifted artist and writer. Artur as well has a real knack for writing. There’s so many potential avenues we see this leading to. One day, we’re going to make a movie. I don’t know what it’s going to be about yet but the three of us are going to produce, write, and direct it.

Artur Galvao (Pran Sathiy / THE MIKE).

Nick: The transition wasn’t bad actually. It pretty much went from a hobby to something we started taking a bit more seriously. What started out as, “Ooo this could be a fun Top 10 to do,” or, “We all just saw this movie so let’s write about it,” to actually discussing when things should go up, how to capitalize on what’s popular right now, and more.

We got more serious about uploading when we saw the views we were getting. We wanted more. We started legitimately advertising our content on every social media platform possible, especially Reddit. Before we would just upload whenever we wanted because none of us saw this as anything. Now, we get together and coordinate what we’re seeing and when. Like, one of us will watch Stranger Things 2 while the other will watch the upcoming Punisher series so that we can get two reviews out instead of one.

What are your aspirations in regards to what lies in the future of Talkies Network?

Nick: Future aspirations? We’ve got a few... One of them is to become a production company. We’ve uploaded several gaming videos to YouTube over the course of the year along with podcasts but have recently taken a break from it. We’d like to get into scripted content for the channel and

Our goal, and the primary purpose of the BOD of The Mike Publications Inc. is to ensure that the interests and needs of USMC students are being met by The Mike. It holds The Mike accountable for its editorial and financial decisions.

Duties of BOD Members: Duties of BOD members include attending meetings, voting on the actions of The Mike Publications Inc., passing resolutions, and more.

Positions Available: -4 USMC student director positions, which are filled by USMC students elected by the St. Mike’s student body. Student directors must be a “member” of The Mike to be eligible for candidacy. All USMC students are eligible to vote. The Mike staff members and St. Michael’s College Student Union

How has the viewership been since you’ve started?

Nick: Our highest viewed article got around 47,500 views. It was our first time breaking news. The director of Star Wars: The Last Jedi had announced that post-production for the film had finished and we were the first to cover it. Since February 2017, we’ve amassed 146,000 views with around 125,500 visitors to the site from around the world.

Matthew (JJ) Simoes (Pran Sathiy / THE MIKE).

You can visit Talkies Network on the web at https://talkiesnetwork.com, and subscribe to them on YouTube at “Talkies Network” or like them on Facebook at https://www.facebook. com/TalkiesNetwork/.

(SMCSU) officials are not permitted to run.

Application Dates: Apply now! Applications will be available today online. Visit the “St. Michael’s College Students” Facebook page, or email Angelo Serrentino, The Mike’s Chief Returning Officer (CRO) for this election, at cro.themike@gmail.com. Applications will remain open until Wednesday, November 22.

Voting: The voting period will run from Friday, November 24 to Tuesday, November 28. Results will be announced Friday, December 1. Information on how to vote will be forthcoming, so stay tuned!

For more information or any other questions you might have, please email cro.themike@gmail.com.